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The APWG and IEEE have issued a call for research and papers to be presented at the fourth annual eCrime Researchers Summit to be held in Tacoma, WA on October 20 and 21. Research papers are invited within a wide variety topic spaces joined by the common theme of investigating the criminological aspects of electronic security, including phishing, rogue anti-virus programs, crimeware, click-fraud, botnets, delivery techniques, detection avoidance, user interface design as well as forensic subjects such as electronic evidence handling. The Anti-Phishing Working Group eCrime Researchers Summit was conceived by APWG Secretary General Peter Cassidy in 2006 as a comprehensive venue for the presentation of the state-of-the-art basic and applied research into electronic crime, engaging every aspect of its development (technical, behavioral, social and legal) as well as technologies and techniques for its detection, related forensics and prevention.

Cubic reported sales for the first calendar quarter of $242.8 million compared to $210.3 million last year, and net income increased by 48% to $14.2 million. Transportation systems sales decreased from $72.1 million in the quarter last year to $68.6 million this year. Sales increased in North America from a fare collection development contract awarded last year and from the sale of spare parts. Sales from U.K. operations were lower this year solely because of a lower average exchange rate between the British Pound and the U.S. Dollar. A new transportation systems contract awarded by Transport for London that essentially replaced a contract that was terminated last year added $244 million. For complete details on Cubic’s latest results, visit CardData ([www.carddata.com](http://www.carddata.com)).

Consumers are feeling better about the general U.S. economy. The Discover “U.S. Spending Monitor” jumped a record 4.7 points in April to 84.2. In three months this number went from a Monitor low 8% in February to a Monitor high in April. The growing economic optimism among consumers coincided with a sharp drop in the number who thought things were getting worse. In April, a Monitor low of 51% said the economy was getting worse, 10 points lower than March and 7 points lower than the previous low, 58%, set back in July 2007. In April, 50% of consumers planned on cutting back their discretionary spending. While still significant, this is the lowest this number has been since March 2008. Consumers are also showing a little less spending restraint in other areas as well. Fifty percent of consumers are planning to spend less on home improvement purchases, down 2 points from March, and 48% are planning to spend less on major personal purchases like a vacation, down 3 points from March and the first time this number has been below 50 percent since September.

Card provider American Banknote S.A reports a 36% increase in revenue for 1Q/09 for the Brazilian subsidiary. AB Note reported R$40.2 million EBITDA, 17.9% higher than reported in the first quarter of 2008 (R$34.1million), and in line with the fourth quarter of 2008; R$21.6 million quarterly net income, 27.1% higher than the first quarter of 2008. AB Note has acquired three new Smart Card clients: HSBC, Safra and Unibanco. As of April, we will supply approximately 1.6 million cards to these institutions, with revenues in the order of R$7.2 million and signed a new contract with Detran/SP, valid for 30 months, with R$83.6 million estimated revenues.

Contactless payment technology provider Oberthur partnered with Mastercard to develop the “FlyBuy” contactless sticker. The “FlyBuy Sticker” is a contactless payment device that can be attached to any surface including a mobile phone, PDA, MP3 player or key ring, allowing the end user to choose their very own personalized payment device. To pay, the user simply needs to place the device with the “Sticker” attached in front of the contactless reader. It can be used as a normal payment card at any Point-of-Sale terminal accepting contactless. The “FlyBuy Sticker” is designed to work with existing business models, and can be personalized on any standard contactless equipment. It upgrades products already in circulation and provides a cost-effective solution to assist issuers in increasing market share for low-value payment transactions.

Mobile payment solution provider mFoundry has enhanced its “mBanking” three mode mobile banking product. Upgrades include integrated support for text banking (SMS) and alerts, as well as support for mBanking within the mobile web browser (WAP). The addition of these two new modes makes mFoundryâs mobile banking product the most complete solution in the market with integrated SMS, WAP, and mobile applications including native support for iPhone and iPod Touch. Having deployed more iPhone apps than any other mobile banking vendor, mFoundry also offers customers rich application functionality for iPhone and iPod Touch, which represent a significant percentage of mobile financial services users.

Payment technology provider Acculynk’s “PaySecure” is now available at 2Checkout.com. PaySecure is the first software-only service in the U.S. that provides consumers the option to pay for online purchases with PIN debit. The “PaySecure” graphical PIN-pad appears at the merchant checkout when it is determined that a consumerâs debit card can be used with a PIN and is in Acculynkâs network. Consumers are given the choice to enter their PIN on the “PaySecure” PIN-pad or run the transaction as signature debit. If they choose to use PaySecure, they enter each digit of their PIN using their mouse, hit âSubmit PINâ and receive payment confirmation from the merchant.

Payment connectivity specialist TNS posted a 10.5% decline in total revenue for the first quarter to $75.3 million. The first quarter 2009 GAAP net loss was $24,000, versus first quarter 2008 GAAP net income of $1.6 million. International Services Division revenue, as expected, was pressured by foreign currency translation and transaction softness in certain countries, though we continued to gain share in its markets. The Financial Services Division revenue growth accelerated from the prior quarterâs rate as TNS gained additional market share and continued to migrate a large customerâs connections onto its network. The POS division revenue delivery improved from prior quarters as transaction softness was increasingly offset by growth in broadband installations including CO-OP Financial Servicesâ ATM network migration and the introduction of its ATM processing products in Canada. For complete details on TNS’ latest performance visit CardData (www.carddata.com).

Card provider American Banknote S.A reports a 36% increase in revenue for 1Q/09 for the Brazilian subsidiary. AB Note reported R$40.2 million EBITDA, 17.9% higher than reported in the first quarter of 2008 (R$34.1million), and in line with the fourth quarter of 2008; R$21.6 million quarterly net income, 27.1% higher than the first quarter of 2008. AB Note has acquired three new Smart Card clients: HSBC, Safra and Unibanco. As of April, we will supply approximately 1.6 million cards to these institutions, with revenues in the order of R$7.2 million and signed a new contract with Detran/SP, valid for 30 months, with R$83.6 million estimated revenues.

Theater chain Regal Entertainment and Warner Brothers have released a collectible “Harry Potter” movie gift card. The gift card is themed after the highly-anticipated sequel Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, in theatres July 15 and features an image of the Harry Potter character printed in shimmering foil. The Harry Potter gift card is redeemable for all purchases at Regal Entertainment Group theatres and is available in denominations of $10, $25 or $50 while supplies last.

E-payment provider BankServ has acquired the assets of TX-based mobile handheld payment processor Commerciant. Commerciant’s “Mobilescape” wireless payment system can execute credit card and check transactions anyplace in the U.S. where a wireless phone signal is available. “Mobilescape” technology is deployed in a variety of markets, including airlines, ground transportation, residential repair services, food services and mobile merchants. BankServ has been developing and delivering electronic payments technology for financial institutions across the globe, including systems for Fedwire, SWIFT, person-to-person payments and Check 21.